The Broncos should want to extend Cortland Sutton, and probably sooner rather than later.
The Denver Broncos were a surprise playoff team in 2025, as rookie quarterback Bo Nix impressed under the tutelage of head coach Sean Payton.
A big help for Nix was lead wide receiver Courtland Sutton, who had one of the best years of his career, posting 81 catches for 1,801 yards and eight touchdowns.
Sutton, entering his age-30 season, is heading into the final year of a four-year, $60.8 million deal he signed in 2021. Sutton has a $13.5 million salary for the 2025 season, and he’s one of a few key impending free agents for the Broncos.
Currently, Denver doesn’t have any other proven receivers, with Marvin Mims and Devaughn Vele projected as the team’s WR2 and WR3. Neither player has topped 550 yards in a season before.
With Bo Nix’s development imperative for the Broncos success, it could be a priority to extend Sutton before the season starts, giving Denver their WR1 for the foreseeable future.
What could a potential extension look like?
Baseline numbers for a Cortland Sutton Broncos extension
Wide receiver extensions have taken over the NFL. But, a majority of those have also been rookie extensions, not ones handed out to wideouts heading on the wrong side of 30.
Still, there are a few comparisons that could make sense for a Sutton deal.
Calvin Ridley signed a four-year, $92 million deal with $50 million guaranteed with the Tennessee Titans in free agency at age 29. That came after a 76-catch, 1,016-yard, and eight-touchdown season that Ridley had with the Jacksonville Jaguars, which followed a year-long suspension.
Ridley did have a 1,374-yard season, but was also away from football for a year.
Earlier this offseason, Davante Adams signed a two-year, $44 million deal with the Los Angeles Rams. Adams has the more accomplished resume with four straight 1,000-yard seasons, but he is also 32.
Mike Evans could be a potential comparison, as well. He signed a two-year, $41 million deal with $35 million guaranteed last offseason at age 30. But, even he is more accomplished with 11 straight 1,000-yard seasons.
Projecting Cortland Sutton’s next deal with the Broncos
Overall, Sutton should receive a raise from the $15.2 million per year that he received on his last four-year deal, albeit likely on a shorter-term deal given his age.
But, I don’t know if he eclipses the deals above, as his resume isn’t as accomplished as some of the other wideouts on the list, even if the reasons aren’t entirely his fault.
A two-year deal makes sense for Sutton, giving him some guaranteed money, while locking in a WR1 for the Broncos for Bo Nix.
That would keep the longtime Bronco in the Mile High through the 2027 season, with a chance to re-up or re-evaluate in the future.
Projection: 2 years, $39 million, $30 million guaranteed